A tragic building collapse in Ormonde, Johannesburg, on Monday, March 2, resulted in the deaths of nine construction workers. Rescue teams worked diligently at the site, successfully retrieving the last body from the debris on Tuesday morning.

Mayor Dada Morero visited the scene and confirmed that the developer responsible for the property, which was still under construction, had proceeded without any approved building plans. The death toll, which initially stood at three on Monday, tragically rose to nine by Tuesday.

The victims of the collapse included nationals from both South Africa and Lesotho. While teams remain on the ground to assess the full extent of the damage, preliminary suspicions indicate that the collapse was due to a poorly constructed concrete slab. Mayor Morero further confirmed that the building itself was structurally unsound.

In response to the noncompliance and the tragic loss of life, Mayor Morero announced that an inquiry would be launched to determine the appropriate actions against the owners of the property. Additionally, a formal notice will be issued to demolish the unsafe structure. Morero stated, "The City will take steps to demolish the structure because of its noncompliance." This incident follows a similar structural collapse in nearby Soweto in January, which also involved a house believed to be structurally unsound, underscoring ongoing concerns about building safety and regulatory adherence in the region.